The Ultimate Guide to Square Halo Engagement Rings

A beautiful 4 prong square halo diamond engagement ring made in 18k white gold.

The halo design is one of the most popular styles of diamond rings that people buy for the majestic appearance and bling factor. In recent years, square halo engagement rings have seen a surge in its popularity, and for good reasons. They are both modern and vintage, sleek and delicate at the same time.

In this write up, you will find out what they are and get insider tips to buying a beautiful square halo diamond ring. I’ve also compiled a list of the very best designs to give you an idea of what’s available and where to buy them.

Ready? Let’s jump right in…

What is a Square Halo Diamond Ring?

A square halo ring compared to a commonly found round halo ring.

The halo ring is a setting where the center stone is surrounded by a collection of melee (small) diamonds. This “halo” of smaller diamonds is literally how the design style got its name and a square halo simply means that the halo is made in the angular shape of a square.

A well crafted square halo ring can add a dimension of sparkle to the ring and enhance the perceived size of the center diamond. Besides giving a better bang for your buck, the halo setting also acts as a protective buffer for the center stone to prevent accidental damage.

Now, I know some people may think that a square halo diamond ring would require a square-cut center diamond like a princess or Asscher cut. However, this is a misconception. The choice of center stone can vary depending on your own personal preferences.

Whether it is a round cut or a cushion-cut center diamond, there are ring designs that feature a square halo for these diamond shapes.

8 Square Halo Diamond Engagement Ring Designs We Love

Over the years, there had been a steady increase in the demand for square halo engagement rings and a variety of designs created for different diamond shapes. There are also a lot of stylistic variations in the market – for example, rounded halo corners to soften the ring’s appearance as opposed to sharp ones and double or even triple halo designs for the ultimate wow factor.

At the end of the day, choosing the exact style of square halo rings would depend on your own personal preferences and lifestyles.

Here are some of my favorite designs to give you an idea of what’s available in the market. If you are interested to see more details, simply click on the images or corresponding links below.

An intricately crafted square halo diamond ring with a princess cut center diamond, this setting has delicate details and a surprise diamond that can be seen from its profile. It is a perfect choice for people with elegant tastes and an eye for subtle details.

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Featuring intertwined bands with sparkly diamonds in a double shank design, this breathtaking engagement ring enhances the center diamond of your choice. Any fiancé will be thrilled to wear something so gorgeous!

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The movement of the twisted diamond band is superbly contrasted with the geometric shape of the square halo. This intricate ring combines both grace and opulence with a carefully created white gold shank wrapped with rose gold shoulders.

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A simple, no-frills solitaire engagement ring with a square shaped halo of tiny round diamonds surrounding the center stone. This affordable ring has a very smooth shank and a comfortable fit which makes it ideal for long durations of wear.

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A round diamond with a square halo ring design, this setting is a classy and endearing style that can stand the test of time. Coupled with the fire and brilliance of a round cut diamond, this ring explodes into a fireball of sparkle that accentuates the size of the center stone.

In fact, this is a diamond ring I personally bought recently for less than $3,000. If you are interested to see close-up photographs and videos of the ring, check out the review I wrote here.

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A unique looking engagement ring that has a rope-style shank topped with a squarish halo, this design offers a symbolic representation of the interconnected love with your recipient.

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This is a modern looking engagement ring in a 3-stone style that features pear cut diamonds on the sides of the center stone. The blend of different diamond shapes come together really well in this ring design to create a fluid appearance while giving it a one-of-a-kind appearance.

This contemporary designer ring from ZAC features a squarish halo made with 38 round cut diamonds and has 6 baguette cut diamond on the band’s shoulder. It is crafted from 14k white gold and gives a distinct flavor of both modern and vintage vibes.

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A majestic looking square double halo square engagement ring that features an Asscher cut center to project fire and brilliance. This grand looking ring will turn heads and offer a high degree of finger coverage. Depending on your diamond selection, this square double halo ring is custom made to tailor to the exact size and measurement of the center stone.

For more ideas, head over to White Flash, James Allen and Blue Nile to browse through their collections of square halo engagement ring settings. These are 3 highly recommended vendors that deliver top notch craftsmanship and quality diamonds.

3 Important Things to Bear in Mind When Buying a Square Halo Ring

First of all, you will need to pay attention to the matching of the center stone and the square halo ring setting. Depending on where you buy the setting from, the specifications and melee quality used would differ.

This information (e.g. G/H and VS clarity diamond melee quality) can usually be found on the listing page or will be provided by the jeweler. In order to create a consistent appearance, the specifications of the center stone should be matched to the quality of the melees within 1-2 grade differences.

As you can see in the comparison above, the K color diamond shows a slightly more pronounced yellowish tint that makes it stand out from the setting’s color. If you want a blended appearance, I would recommend a center diamond with color rating between F to I. On the other hand, if you like the yellowish contrast, then it is perfectly fine to go with the K. You will also get to save some money too!

When it comes to clarity, there is more leeway as differences in clarity aren’t that noticeable to the naked eye. As long as you pick an eyeclean diamond, you could go down to SI1 clarity or even as high as internally flawless if you like.

Secondly, craftsmanship standards are very important when it comes to buying a beautiful and long lasting piece of jewelry. Now, the million dollar question is how do you determine whether a setting is well made or not? Well, there are no easy answers here as it boils down to the experience of the jeweler.

Personally, I have vetted hundreds of jewelers across the world and I can tell you that it’s hard to find someone that can consistently make great settings. In general, I look out for details like how well matched the melees are, how consistent the square halo is constructed, shank symmetry, prong placements, finishing and etc.

If you want to see indepth pictures and videos on assessing craftsmanship quality, check out the reviews of the rings I previously bought with these links here and here.

The third most important thing to bear in mind is to make sure that the center stone is selected for cut quality and light performance. Round cut diamonds are relatively easier to select because of their more established cut grading system compared to fancy shape diamonds.

One of the biggest mistakes I see beginners make is to solely rely on what is stated on the grading report and take the cut rating as the gospel. The fact is that there’s plenty of mediocre diamonds within the GIA triple excellent of AGS triple ideal ranges. In order to find a truly well cut diamond with the best sparkle, you will need to rely on tangible data like idealscope or ASET images to help you determine performance.

I’ve laid out a step by step guide to help you navigate this selection process. And if you are in the market for a fancy shape diamond like a princess cut or an Asscher cut, simply head over to the respective sections of Beyond4cs.com to find out how to choose them.

Summary: An Overview And Time to Go Shopping!

I hope this article has offered useful insights into buying a square halo diamond engagement ring. Personally, I love halo rings that also have pave shanks as they inject a lot of sparkle and life into the ring’s overall appearance.

Square halo engagement ring settings can make a bold statement and are very cost-efficient when it comes to enhancing the bling factor. This is because the halo helps the center stone look bigger without you having to pay the premium for a larger carat size diamond.

Before we wrap things up, I want to leave you with some information on the best places to buy square halo diamond rings. These are retailers that offer GIA/AGS certified diamonds and extensive collections of ring designs.

White Flash – A vendor that specializes in high performance super ideal cut diamonds. On top of magnified diamond photography, White Flash offers tangible data like the ASET and Idealscope images to show how well cut their diamonds are. They also have a wide range of beautiful in-house ring and designer settings to cater to different tastes.

James Allen – They offer incredibly detailed videography of their diamond listing and settings. This makes it really easy for beginners to see exactly what they are getting and perform a proper assessment of the diamonds they are buying. Besides GIA/AGS certified diamonds, James Allen also has a big inventory of lab created diamonds for people who don’t want to buy natural stones.

Blue Nile – They are the world’s largest online retailer of diamonds and you will be able to find something that fits any budget and style here. Blue Nile also offers video listings of their diamonds and work exclusively with some designers on their platform.

All 3 vendors are reliable places where I’ve personally bought multiple rings from. If you want to shop completely risk-free for a high quality ring at a competitive price point, make sure you check them out! Good luck with your search! If you need any help or further advice, feel free to get in touch.

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